Meet the Artist: Katarina String Quartet

The Katarina String Quartet has quickly emerged as one of North America’s most dynamic young ensembles, combining impeccable technique with a spirit of curiosity and connection. As the Graduate Resident String Quartet at The Juilliard School and winners of the 2025 Fischoff Competition Grand Prize, the quartet brings fresh energy to everything they perform—whether reimagining Beethoven, exploring new works by living composers, or weaving folk melodies into their programs.

In conversation with the quartet, it’s clear that their artistry is fueled not only by a deep love of music, but also by the stories, communities, and relationships that shape who they are as people. Learn more in our recent interview below.

You perform everything from classical masterworks to contemporary pieces and folk arrangements. How do you choose your repertoire, and what excites you most about that range? 

I love that every piece we play takes on its own unique style. Just like no two people are exactly the same, no two pieces are identical, which lets us discover something new in everything. When we’re looking for something to play, we spend a lot of time listening. When I listen to a piece, I like to cozy up on my couch, close my eyes, and discover what the music makes me feel. I find that feelings come up when listening to music that I didn’t even know were there! If what I feel while listening to a piece is relevant to what I’m currently going through in my life, it’s even more satisfying to perform it. I reach for these kinds of pieces. I’m also inspired by the pieces that touch my friends in the KSQ in a similar way—playing repertoire that speaks to Jeanel, Jerome, and Celia makes me feel closer to them, and strengthens our bond as a quartet.

–Maya

Whether it’s Beethoven or a living composer, how do you bring a fresh perspective to familiar works? 

Every piece we choose to program is one that speaks to us personally and emotionally. Our rehearsal process for both canonic works and new music involves a lot of discussions about stories, people, and characters that live in the music, many of which are inspired by stories from our own lives. Our personal relationships with one another and the places we exist really influence the way we interpret music. Because of this, the music is always fresh because it is unique to our personal voices.

–Jeanel 

What role does storytelling play in your performances, and how do you connect emotionally with the music and the audience? 

We’ve got quite different personalities and interests, but one thing we share is how much we care for the people in our lives. Our performances and rehearsals are inspired by our relationships with family, friends, and mentors. Personal stories come up frequently in rehearsal, which doesn’t help us with time management, but makes the music infinitely more personal to play and, we think, to listen to. Aside from telling stories that speak to us personally through the music, we try to speak in performances whenever possible. Each audience comes with their own energy and personality, and when we chat with them beforehand or give a verbal introduction, it’s easier to connect emotionally through the music. 

–Celia 

You’ve been described as tightly knit and community-focused. Can you share how that sense of connection shows up in rehearsal or on stage?

We’re pretty firm believers that what happens between people off-stage shows up in their energy on-stage. That’s why actively caring for and learning about each other and the communities we enter is a priority for us. Internally, this means having regular open conversations about communication and goals, bonding during meals and long car rides, and creating a schedule that allows us to rest and spend quality time with loved ones. Beyond our quartet, we regularly perform in community centers wherever we go and are passionate about sharing our experience through teaching. We’re also conscientious of our environmental impact on our community and are currently working on developing concrete sustainability commitments. When we actively care for each other and our world, it feels like our music extends beyond the concert stage, and that is so empowering and energizing. We feel a strong sense of being part of a team, and the energy on stage buzzes with excitement, trust, and optimism—I think that might be what people pick up on when they sense our connection on stage. 

–Celia 

As artists, what are your hopes for the future of classical and chamber music? 

Something that inspires me all the time is seeing musicians take on unique projects I never would have imagined—original compositions, interdisciplinary projects with dancers or painters, collaborations with community members, or reimagining a “traditional” Western classical piece in a new way—think Bach’s Toccata and Fugue arranged for 200 cellos (I played in this arrangement, and the roof nearly came off of the concert hall) or Mozart’s Magic Flute on piano and a blade of grass. My hope is that new ways of music making will never stop expanding and being reinvented. I’m always inspired by new ideas and perspectives whenever KSQ works with young musicians, and I can’t wait to see more of what the next generation dreams up.

–Maya

What would you say to someone who’s never attended a string quartet performance before to encourage them to give it a try?

I’ve heard this from classical music fans and less-than-fans alike—nothing in the world sounds like a string quartet! A perfectly blended string quartet is like an exquisitely balanced meal, a waft of freshly baked bread, or the most beautiful ray of light beaming through a cloud. Whatever you picture when you think about a beautiful and gently powerful moment, that’s the sound of a string quartet, and the best part is that you can savour that moment over and over. Also, the range of sound and music that can be played with a quartet is unparalleled!

–Jerome

The Katarina String Quartet reminds us that chamber music is as much about human connection as it is about sound. Each performance invites audiences into an experience that is intimate, dynamic, and full of discovery.